Shloka 20

Dāna-vidhi: Pātra-nirṇaya, Go-dāna-mahima, and Rules of Acceptance

Devanagari script

अन्यत्र कुलटाषण्ढपतितेभ्यो द्विषस्तथा / देवातिथ्यर्चनकृते पितृतृप्त्यर्थमेव च / सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयादात्मतृप्सर्थमेव च

Transliteration

anyatra kulaṭāṣaṇḍhapatitebhyo dviṣastathā / devātithyarcanakṛte pitṛtṛptyarthameva ca / sarvataḥ pratigṛhṇīyādātmatṛpsarthameva ca

Translation

Hendaklah diterima pemberian dari segala arah—kecuali daripada pelacur (kulatā), ṣaṇḍha, orang jatuh (patita), dan musuh. Penerimaan itu wajar apabila untuk pemujaan para dewa dan memuliakan atithi (tetamu), demi memuaskan Pitṛ (leluhur), serta juga untuk nafkah diri yang sah menurut dharma.

Word by Word

• अन्यत्र: except
• अन्यत्र: Apavada (Exception/अपवाद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपवादार्थक (exceptive adverb: ‘except’)

• कुलटा: from a prostitute
• कुलटा: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• षण्ढ: from an impotent person/eunuch
• षण्ढ: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्ढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• पतितेभ्यः: from fallen/outcaste persons
• पतितेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (√पत्, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (fallen/outcaste)

• द्विषः: from enemies
• द्विषः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; ‘द्विष्’ = शत्रु (enemy)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थ (also/likewise)

• देवातिथ्यर्चनकृते: for worship/honoring of gods and guests
• देवातिथ्यर्चनकृते: Adhikarana (Purpose-locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आतिथ्य + अर्चन + कृते (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रयोजने (locative of purpose: ‘for the sake of’)

• पितृतृप्त्यर्थम्: for the purpose of satisfying the ancestors
• पितृतृप्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + तृप्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (accusative of purpose)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वतः: from everywhere
• सर्वतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/स्रोतः-वाचक (adverb: from everywhere)

• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: should accept (receive)
• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) + प्रति (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मतृप्सर्थम्: for the sake of one’s own satisfaction
• आत्मतृप्सर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + तृप्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (accusative of purpose)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratigraha is generally allowed for dharmic ends, but gifts from certain disqualified persons and enemies are to be avoided; acceptance is justified by worship, hospitality, ancestor satisfaction, and lawful sustenance.

Vedantic Theme: Sāttvika-niyama: purity of means (upāya-śuddhi) and intention (saṅkalpa) in sustaining dharma.

Application: Maintain ethical donor screening and conflict-of-interest boundaries; accept resources when they support worship/service/family duties and legitimate livelihood.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma sections on śrāddha and pitṛ-tarpaṇa; adjacent pratigraha rules (1.98.18-19)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Atithi (guest)
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of dana (accepting gifts) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames acceptance of gifts as a dharmic act when it supports deva-worship, hospitality, and Pitṛ-satisfaction, while warning against tainted sources that can compromise ritual purity and merit.

How does this verse relate to Pitṛs (ancestors) and Shraddha practices?

It explicitly permits receiving resources intended for pitṛ-tṛpti—i.e., offerings and rites meant to satisfy ancestors—indicating that such ritual purposes justify acceptance even broadly, provided the source is not prohibited.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Accept or fund religious/charitable support with ethical discernment: prioritize transparent, non-harmful sources, and use donations for worship, hospitality, and family-ancestor observances rather than personal greed.